The Kennebec Commuter was dared to do something this week from an anonymous reader who had (surprise, surprise) a rant.

"I dare you to drive from Gardiner to Richmond on Route 24, and while you are doing that, you'll have plenty of time to contemplate how the route will handle extra traffic this summer when (the Maine Department of Transportation) closes I-295," the e-mail read.

The Kennebec Commuter doesn't back down from a dare, so we decided to take this anonymous tipster at his word and go for a spin down Route 24.

Riding down the road from Gardiner to downtown Richmond was like an episode of "The Dukes of Hazzard," where the Duke cousins are flying around Georgia in the General Lee. The only thing missing was a Charlie Daniels Band album. There were potholes and breaks everywhere. Uneven asphalt abounded.

The icing on the cake: a huge puddle that was covering what must be the biggest pothole this side of the Mississippi River. Half the car sank down in the pothole.

And, according to the Kennebec Commuter's new friend, MaineDOT engineer John Devin, Route 24 isn't even the worst road in central Maine.

"Oh, it's by far not our worst," Devin said, citing Route 138 in Bowdoinham as being more "horrendous," and another road in central Maine that has required 50 tons of cold patch since Jan. 1.

As loyal readers from the Kennebec Commuter's recent column on potholes in towns, Devin said the same type of vicious cycle is at work on country routes.

"This has been a harsh winter on the roads," Devin said. "Right now, it is so hard to keep up with patching as it is."

The wear and tear on the road could continue into summer when a portion of I-295 is closed over the season for repairs.

Devin said MaineDOT is offering U.S. Route 201 as an alternative to protect drivers' cars and prevent further wear to Route 24.

As far as a permanent fix for Route 24 and other badly weather-worn roads are concerned, Devin said MaineDOT has some options, though the money might not be available to make the proper repairs.

"This is a statewide phenomenon, not just this particular road," he said.

Got a traffic tip, scoop, or rant? Tell me about it. Drop me a line at 623-3811, Ext. 431, or mmalloy@centralmaine.com.